While aging is universal, the ways in which we begin to show our age can be as unique as a fingerprint. Some may realize that those aging parents can safely enjoy the freedom to live alone well into their 70s or 80s, while illnesses such as dementia or physical limitations may cause relatively young parents to need personal care 24 hours a day. While no two situations will be the same, here are some key signs that an aging parent can no longer live alone. Are there older people who live alone and enjoy it? I'm 74 years old and I live alone and I really enjoy it. However, I'm worried that if something happens to me, there's no one to help me or I could be here for days before someone finds out about me.
I have a daughter in the same city, but she rarely checks if I'm okay. He used to check it every day and now he's stopped doing it, I guess he thinks I'm fine. That's all I'm worried about. I rent and work part time. I'm trying to get subsidized housing for the elderly, but that could take a few years.
The picture varies from state to state, with 12 states and the District of Columbia offering paid family leave specifically for spousal care. If you notice that an older parent is no longer participating in their favorite activities or spending time with friends, take note. It's not uncommon for people to feel like they're abandoning a family member or that they're getting rid of the problem. Something like forgetting to carry a checkbook or taking out the trash may seem insignificant, but if you know your parents well enough to know that these are things they would never leave out, it might be time to step in. But ultimately, when you decide to intervene will depend on how well you know your parents.
Memory loss may be the first indicator that an aging parent's health is worsening, and this change should not be taken lightly. Losing independence, leaving home and feeling like your own body is betraying you can sometimes be terrifying and humiliating. As parents age and begin to forget about routine tasks, their hygiene and health may also begin to lose weight. It's not easy to know when a family member's needs have exceeded the level of care a family can provide. In addition, in 30 states, adult children can assume legal responsibility for the care of their aging parents if the parents are unable to do so on their own. Conditions, such as severe or recurrent strokes, require an environment in which a person can not only receive careful treatment for pre-existing or recent episodes of illness, but also receive intensive preventive care.
Before this is the case, you should explore the option of placing a disabled family member in a long-term care facility. Family members must take time off work, drive long distances every day to help, and bear the costs of the elder's mortgage, utilities and other bills.
